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German record champions Borussia Düsseldorf will resume the season as league leaders after the TTBL break, with superstar Fan Zhendong in their ranks. In this interview, club manager Andreas Preuß talks about the changes and first experiences brought about by the signing of the Chinese table tennis icon, as well as the club’s ambitions and plans for the future.

Andreas Preuß, Borussia Düsseldorf spent the TTBL break at the top of the table with a perfect record. On top of that, Anton Källberg and Dang Qiu won a total of three medals at the European Championships in Ljubljana – it sounds like a very relaxing break...

Yes, we were delighted with their success. In that respect, it has certainly been a very positive break. However, we are already preparing for the challenges ahead. We have several home matches coming up in November and December, and at the end of November, Düsseldorf will host a WTT Feeder event for the second time this year. On top of that, I am personally also spending a lot of time thinking about the future of the club.

How important were the European Championship medals for Düsseldorf’s long-standing key players after they had somewhat slipped into the background following the arrival of your new signing Fan Zhendong?

The European Championships are always something very special, so we are all the more delighted that both players were so successful. Anton, in particular, exceeded expectations with his two silver medals.

Olympic champion Fan Zhendong’s move to Düsseldorf has been the major talking point in the TTBL and continues to attract enormous attention to the league. What has it been like working with a global superstar during these first few weeks?

Yes, the first few weeks with Fan Zhendong have been incredibly exciting. It has also been a lot of fun and has given the club a tremendous boost in motivation and spirit. Fan brings an incredible amount of energy and turns every one of our home matches into a major event. I have been watching top-level table tennis for more than 40 years, and I now look forward to every home match with him playing in front of a packed arena. For our spectators and for me personally, every one of his matches is a real table tennis celebration. It always feels a little like a final.
At the same time, a lot has changed for our entire club in virtually every area, whether it is merchandising, social media, communications, ticketing or marketing in general. With Fan, everything has gone up a notch. These are new and exciting challenges that bring all of us a great deal of joy.

Fans rarely get to see Fan Zhendong outside the playing area, as he tends to keep to himself. How have you and the rest of the Borussia team experienced your new star player so far?

Fan is a real asset in many ways. He is always highly motivated, a true team player, has a great sense of humour and enjoys himself, while also being extremely professional. He is a great role model for everyone and a tremendous source of motivation for the entire club.

Since Fan’s move from your arch-rivals 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT, you have spoken countless times about new opportunities to showcase the club and, in particular, to improve its commercial appeal. What have you already been able to put into practice?

I still feel that we are only at the beginning when it comes to merchandising, communications, social media and marketing in general. We still have room for improvement, particularly in the commercial area. We have gained two international advertising partners, and one of our existing partners has increased its commitment.
But there is still room to grow.

What could that look like?

We are also planning various activities in China in the future, and preparations are already in full swing. There is incredible potential that we have only partially tapped into so far. The enthusiasm is enormous.
The fact alone that our matches are broadcast live in more than 300 cinemas across China – sometimes late in the evening or even at night – shows just how large Fan’s fan base is in his home country. This also strengthens the Borussia Düsseldorf brand for future activities in China.

Has this development met your expectations, or is there still more to come?

So far, my expectations have been met and, in some areas, even exceeded. However, there is still room for growth in sponsorship. In ticketing and merchandising, we have actually already exceeded our expectations. Nevertheless, there is still potential for further growth in all areas.

Strengthening the ties between Germany and China through sport, particularly through table tennis, was also important to you. What progress has been made in this regard?

The connections have already been strengthened considerably. A number of diverse German-Chinese activities have taken place at virtually every level, helping to promote and reinforce the friendly nature of our relationship.

An interim assessment also has to include your early exit from the German Cup in the round of 16 against TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen. Does that defeat still sting?

Of course, the cup exit still hurts, but that is in the past now and we are looking ahead. Our focus is on creating the best possible conditions to reach the Champions League Final Four and qualify for the TTBL Final4. We are well positioned in both competitions and on the right track. We will continue to prepare professionally and see where that takes us. I am very happy with the team’s performances so far. In the cup, we simply had a bad afternoon and a poor half-hour against TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, who also played exceptionally well that day.

Has the cup exit increased the already considerable pressure on your team to win titles in the league and the Champions League, or were expectations already at their highest beforehand?

Of course, the pressure is high in Düsseldorf. Anyone who plays for this club knows that. We are always under pressure and always want to win everything. The fact that we have not been as successful over the past two years has naturally increased that pressure, but we will continue to handle it well.

In autumn, most clubs gradually begin making plans for the next season. You have repeatedly said that Fan Zhendong would be your first point of contact and that all further decisions would depend on the outcome of those discussions. Is there already a timeline in place?

A lot is still up in the air when it comes to our squad planning. That naturally gives me some food for thought. Nobody has a contract at the moment, neither any of the players in the current squad nor the coach. We have had a number of discussions, but nothing has been finalised yet. Once the players return from the WTT Champions event in Frankfurt in early November, I will sit down with each of them to discuss how things will move forward. A lot is still open, and many things are possible.
We are heading into a very challenging Olympic season, with countless tournaments and a lot of pressure on every individual player. We need to carefully consider whether we should compete with five or six players. Ultimately, everything is still open. Of course, I will also speak with Fan Zhendong, but I do not expect any immediate decisions. We may announce one or two new signings before the end of the year.
I believe that many decisions will not be made until early 2027.

Thank you very much for your time, Andreas Preuß.

Florian Manzke